Under-fire manager says he has "no worries" about his future but admits that
the club face a "big problem" if their dire form continues

René Meulensteen insisted on Tuesday night that had “no worries” over his future as Fulham manager but admitted he could not say whether he would ­survive a repeat performance of their FA Cup humiliation against Sheffield United.

Meulensteen’s two-month reign at Craven Cottage hit a new low when League One strugglers United sent the Premier League’s ­bottom club spinning out of the Cup in a fourth-round replay.

Speculation is rife that Alan ­Curbishley, Fulham’s recently-appointed technical director, is being lined up to replace him and asked whether he was confident he retained the support of owner Shahid Khan, the Dutchman said: “That will only last until that is gone. So, until that time, I just keep doing my job as best as I can. I have no worries in that respect at all.”

Meulensteen branded Tuesday night’s display the worst since he himself was recruited from within to replace Martin Jol and asked whether he could afford a repeat, he replied: “I can’t answer that.”

The former Manchester United No 2 acknowledged that Fulham were doomed to relegation unless they improved quickly.

“If we play like this, we have a big problem,” he said. “We’ve played well enough in other games to be not too scared that this is the sort of trend we’re going to.”

He added: “The most important thing is that we don’t lose the togetherness because that’s the only way we’re going to get out of this mess. If you start falling apart within then you have an even bigger problem. That’s what cannot happen.”

Meulensteen made it clear that also applied to supporters, who repeatedly jeered his side on Tuesday night.

“The most important message to the fans is, one, don’t add to the problems that we already have but be part of the solution,” he said.

“These are the times when you need fans the most. It’s always easy when things are hunky dory and things are going great. That’s why fans are called supporters and that’s what we need – support.”

Sheffield manager Nigel Clough had every sympathy for Meulensteen and assistant Ray Wilkins.

“I do feel for Rene and Ray because you know that feeling when something goes in and you feel that everything is against you,” he said.

Clough knows the feeling well, with United languishing in 23rd in League One. But, unlike Meulensteen, he has had the respite of two FA Cup giant-killings following their third-round win at Aston Villa.

“We’ve had a couple of breaks in the FA Cup which we haven’t had in the league,” he added.